Walmart Supercenter At 111 Yale St.

[Leonard]

Parking lot trees probably aren't "shade trees". And they belong to Walmart, not the public. This development was supposed to be "better" because of the 380, specifically as to sidewalks and trees. It's not. It's worse. Yale and Koehler should be tree-lined.

[RedScare]

Oh, I don't know. I bet the Walmart trees will have limbs and leaves and all the other cool things that Heights or Target trees have. I'm willing to bet that if one stands under them they may even block the sunlight, providing 'shade' as it were.

I am a bit concerned about the part where Walmart owns them. Will Walmart prevent us from looking at their trees, or standing under them? Will Walmart not let their trees play with the other neighborhood trees? If so, can I prohibit you from looking at my trees?

By the way, I like the improvements to Yale. But, then again, I am not prohibited from looking at Walmart's trees. The area looks better if you can look at...and more importantly, appreciate...all of the trees, rather than just some of them.

[kylejack]

Parking lot trees probably aren't "shade trees". And they belong to Walmart, not the public. This development was supposed to be "better" because of the 380, specifically as to sidewalks and trees. It's not. It's worse. Yale and Koehler should be tree-lined.

I don't think they'll be segregating the oxygen provided by those trees. We all get to breathe it.

[Leonard]

kylejack, maybe you and red can sponsor an ordinance to give all our public property to Walmart. Why not?

[kylejack]

I opposed the 380. I just think you're getting a little silly, and I'll remind you that you can't unring a bell. This deal is done.

[TGM]

Parking lot trees probably aren't "shade trees". And they belong to Walmart, not the public. This development was supposed to be "better" because of the 380, specifically as to sidewalks and trees. It's not. It's worse. Yale and Koehler should be tree-lined.

[Leonard]

Yes, my comment about giving all the city's property to Walmart was silly - we don't need to give them anything else.

But it's not silly that the City told us that the 380 will make the development better, specifically as to sidewalks and trees when it actually makes the development worse as to sidewalks and trees. The public expected tree-lined sidewalks, instead, they got more than nine 22-year-old oaks cut down and replaced with four 1.5-inch crepe myrtles. It's wrong. The City isn't holding Walmart to Chapter 33, they aren't holding them to the replat of Koehler that required 4-inch trees on Koehler. They aren't even holding them to the original approved planting plan. This is not a "better" development, it's subpar.

[Porchman]

It looks like the Yale bridge will be replaced

http://www.theleadernews.com/a_community/community013.html

[TGM]

It looks like the Yale bridge will be replaced

http://www.theleadernews.com/a_community/community013.html

Will the HAHC mandate that the new bridge be constructed using only vintage material and engineering methods? Sure, they don't actually have a say in the matter, but you know..

[Houston19514]

Yes, my comment about giving all the city's property to Walmart was silly - we don't need to give them anything else.

But it's not silly that the City told us that the 380 will make the development better, specifically as to sidewalks and trees when it actually makes the development worse as to sidewalks and trees. The public expected tree-lined sidewalks, instead, they got more than nine 22-year-old oaks cut down and replaced with four 1.5-inch crepe myrtles. It's wrong. The City isn't holding Walmart to Chapter 33, they aren't holding them to the replat of Koehler that required 4-inch trees on Koehler. They aren't even holding them to the original approved planting plan. This is not a "better" development, it's subpar.

Source?

[RedScare]

Will the HAHC mandate that the new bridge be constructed using only vintage material and engineering methods? Sure, they don't actually have a say in the matter, but you know..

Close.

Complicating factors in design planning and length of construction include the bridge's span over the White Oak Bayou, which would get the Harris County Flood Control District involved, and its designation on the National Register of Historic Places, which mandates that any redesign would incorporate the current aesthetic features of the bridge.

The question now becomes, "Will RUDH applaud this decision, or will they complain about the cost to replace it?"

[Leonard]

Houston19514, did you see the link I posted previously to the approved planting plan? That plan is no longer valid. I don't have a link for the new plan, but if I find one, I will post it. I do appreciate you asking for the data and I wish I could provide it to you now.

Red, the City is on the hook for around $115K worth of cosmetic work on the current bridge - plus 20% overhead and unknown interest. Yay new balusters and paint!

[Marksmu]

I drive by this thing every single day, twice per day, and even though I do not personally shop at Walmart, the development on the Walmart side of Yale is not ugly....I dont really know what you think you deserve, or why you think you deserve anything, but as far as Walmarts, and for that matter strip centers in general go this thing is beautiful....Look at the Kroger on 11th, or any of that crap that is on 11th between I-10 and 11th...its all Hideous...this story is quite beautiful in comparison....even the sub-tenant shops are being made of a very attractive stone.

If you dont like this, you just don't like strip developments in general. If you don't like strip center developments you need to move to another country as these styles are all that is being built EVERYWHERE. Its not isolated to Houston or Texas - its the entire country. Its not necessarily a trend I like, but landlords want money and strip centers cost less to make, command similar rents to standalone buildings, and are more easily rented to just about any type of business.

You are just banging your head against a wall complaining about it b/c nothing is going to change....ever.

[RedScare]

Red, the City is on the hook for around $115K worth of cosmetic work on the current bridge - plus 20% overhead and unknown interest. Yay new balusters and paint!

Guess that answers my question.

[Leonard]

Red, not wanting to pay for cosmetic work on a bridge that is schedule to be demolished is not the same as not wanting to pay for the bridge to be replaced. I'm all for replacing the bridge. I think that is what public money is for - public infrastructure.

Marksmu, I don't object to the development itself, I object to the City saying the 380 is going to make it better, specifically as to sidewalks and trees. I think I've typed "specifically as to sidewalks and trees" in here a few times. We are paying for the sidewalks and trees. The trees are going into the Walmart parking lot. Mitigation of demolished trees in the ROW calls for trees replaced in the ROW. Chapter 33 calls for street trees. There are none. Why? The replat of Koehler calls for street trees. There are none. Why? How is no trees better than trees?

I object to the 380. And I will continue to object to the 380. And I hope that someday the City will not be able to enter into this kind of deal.

[RedScare]

I'm OK with the 380. I think the street improvements are worth the money spent. I like the cleaning up of that brownfield. I even think the design of the Walmart is fairly good for a big box. That the Walmart haters despise it is simply gravy.

[Houston19514]

Houston19514, did you see the link I posted previously to the approved planting plan? That plan is no longer valid. I don't have a link for the new plan, but if I find one, I will post it. I do appreciate you asking for the data and I wish I could provide it to you now.

Yes, I did see that link. Where did you learn that they have changed the landscaping plan?

[samagon]

trees, regardless of their location help reduce heat, they don't care whether they are planted in a walmart parking lot, or a median, or over a sidewalk.

honestly, it's far cheaper for YOU AND I if these trees are planted on walmart property, guess what happens when construction is done? Someone has to keep them watered, that's on walmart now.

the 380 might be something you and I are paying for immediately, but the fact is, the money will be paid back, and we will have less costs involved in the long run.

out of all the anti-walmart rhetoric displayed here, this is truly the most silly.

edit: it is true that there will be less shade over the sidewalk, and in the median, but (and this is going to be especially true once the feeders are completed) who is going to walk form the north of i-10 under i-10 to get to walmart on yale, or any of the other places beyond walmart?

Edited July 26, 2012 by samagon

[Leonard]

samagon, there should be trees in the walmart parking lot AND along the streets. The median already has trees. Developers are supposed to keep the street trees alive for 2 years. The live oaks on Yale survived for 22 years. For the 380 - they pay now, we pay them back later plus unknown and uncapped interest.

nobody is going to walk from I10 along Yale to get to Walmart, but they might swim (bridge being torn down joke).

Houston19514, from a low-ranking government official.

[TGM]

I'm OK with the 380. I think the street improvements are worth the money spent. I like the cleaning up of that brownfield. I even think the design of the Walmart is fairly good for a big box. That the Walmart haters despise it is simply gravy.

I did not realize it was a brownfield, which now makes me want to support them even more. Brownfields are the liability hot potato that no one wants to face risks on. Can't really build homes on them, forget community gardens or parks, shopping centers are pretty much it.

[RedScare]

Yes, it was a steel mill for decades. Walmart haters try to make it sound as if Walmart came in and ruined an idyllic pasture, but it was a rusting steel mill. The 'Stop The Heights Walmart' Facebook page even blatantly lied, calling it a greenfield the other day.

Edited July 27, 2012 by RedScare

[Leonard]

Redscare, what day? I looked back over a month and couldn't find any reference to a greenfield on the Stop the Heights Walmart facebook page. In what context was it said?

[RedScare]

Redscare, what day? I looked back over a month and couldn't find any reference to a greenfield on the Stop the Heights Walmart facebook page. In what context was it said?

Look at the comments under the alligator story. The July 17 post by Stop The Heights Walmart begins...

Stop the Heights Wal-Mart! ‎@Michael: The Walmart and Kroger sites were formerly greenfields.

This is patently false in regard to both sites. A quick glance at Google Earth Historical as recently as April 2006 clearly shows industrial sites at both locations. Perhaps Stop The Heights Walmart editors do not know what a greenfield is, but they clearly mislabeled both sites.

[J008]

Quizno's

Check cash store

AT&T store

Mattress Firm

Chipotle

Wings n Things (I wish)

Spec's (I wish more)

Starsucks

Bed bath and beyond (please god no)

Marble slab

Chuck e cheese (at which point the anti-burbanites' heads explode!!!!)

Chronicle is reporting the new tenants

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2012/07/new-tenants-for-heights-area-walmart-center-announced/

JP Morgan Chase

Taco Cabana

Visionworks

Sport Clips

Jersey Mike’s

Nailtime

GNC

GameStop

Corner Bakery

Starbucks

Verizon

Which Wich

Chipotle

So it is as bad as it seems both a walmart and a starbucks, nail salon, bank, and a liqour store (not listed above but the sign is already up.)

[jb11]

Chronicle is reporting the new tenants

http://blog.chron.co...nter-announced/

JP Morgan Chase

Taco Cabana

Visionworks

Sport Clips

Jersey Mike’s

Nailtime

GNC

GameStop

Corner Bakery

Starbucks

Verizon

Which Wich

Chipotle

So it is as bad as it seems both a walmart and a starbucks, nail salon, bank, and a liqour store (not listed above but the sign is already up.)

Regular old one stop suburban plaza. You cant escape it.

[LTAWACS]

Chronicle is reporting the new tenants

http://blog.chron.co...nter-announced/

JP Morgan Chase

Taco Cabana

Visionworks

Sport Clips

Jersey Mike’s

Nailtime

GNC

GameStop

Corner Bakery

Starbucks

Verizon

Which Wich

Chipotle

So it is as bad as it seems both a walmart and a starbucks, nail salon, bank, and a liqour store (not listed above but the sign is already up.)

Feels almost like it's some strip center in a craptastic Towne Centre way the eff out in Woodlands, Katy, Sealy, SugarLand, etc, etc, ad nauseam.

Don't worry. In a few years the 24-hour check cashing place, used mattress store, criKet, work source, 24-hour game room, and touristas americanos will set up shop within or directly across the street from this place.

[JJxvi]

Look at the comments under the alligator story. The July 17 post by Stop The Heights Walmart begins...

Stop the Heights Wal-Mart! ‎@Michael: The Walmart and Kroger sites were formerly greenfields.

This is patently false in regard to both sites. A quick glance at Google Earth Historical as recently as April 2006 clearly shows industrial sites at both locations. Perhaps Stop The Heights Walmart editors do not know what a greenfield is, but they clearly mislabeled both sites.

I'm sure they really meant WAY back before the industrial sites were built....

[TGM]

This is patently false in regard to both sites. A quick glance at Google Earth Historical as recently as April 2006 clearly shows industrial sites at both locations. Perhaps Stop The Heights Walmart editors do not know what a greenfield is, but they clearly mislabeled both sites.

So the new meme should be that Wal-Mart closed down an American Steel Mill and built a store that imports steel bicycles made by Chinese kids beaten twice daily.

[TGM]

So it is as bad as it seems both a walmart and a starbucks, nail salon, bank, and a liqour store (not listed above but the sign is already up.)

Sunnyside would be happy to have these. Quit moaning.

[RedScare]

When did a liquor store become a bad thing?